More than 50 paintings by Dan Jones and his posters exploring life in the East End are on display in a new show charting his 40-year career.

The exhibition at Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, which runs until November 15, focuses on Dan’s evocation of community life in the borough during the 1970s and 80s.

Dan’s subjects include political demonstrations from East End history up to the present, from the Poplar Rates Rebellion of 1921 to the anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street in 1996.

His posters helped to promote many local causes, including demonstrations against racist murders, canoeing in Shadwell Basin and the recruitment of Bangladeshi foster parents.

Paintings of Stepney shoppers and skateboarders in bustling Watney Market, the traditional Wapping Pipe and Drum Band, and the community-organised E1 Festival will also be on show.

Commenting on the exhibition, Dan said: “The work in this exhibition is a long conversation about what I’ve been involved with over the years, living and working and loving Tower Hamlets.

“It features personal local heroes, both famous and unknown, naughty boys who turned out to be diamonds after all, and wonderful characters like Trevor Huddlestone, Tommy Finn, Blair Peach, Malcolm Johnson and Tunde Ikoli.”

The exhibition will run until November 15 at the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives at 277 Bancroft Road, E1 4DQ.

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